Device and method for storing items using a rack

ABSTRACT

A device for storing items having a rack that is provided with storage compartments, and having a rack serving apparatus. In order to place items into storage and to remove them from storage, the rack serving apparatus and the rack can move horizontally and vertically relative to one another, with the rack having a variable adjustment of the storage compartments by way of storage compartment divisions that can be variably set both in the horizontal and also in the vertical direction and bear the item.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority of German patent application 102018 103 390.7 filed Feb. 15, 2018.

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device and method for storingitems using a rack, which is provided with storage compartments and arack serving apparatus. In order to place items into storage and toremove them from storage the rack serving apparatus and the rack canmove horizontally and vertically relative to one another.

Storage structures are known, including EP 1 471 015 B1, which disclosesa store in which trays can be placed in vertically provided supportbrackets. Likewise, EP 2 824 046 A1 discloses a similar store in whichvertical storage compartment dividers in the form of stanchions canadditionally be installed in order to divide storage compartments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides advantageous embodiments of a highlyflexible device and method for storing items in a rack. According to anaspect of the present invention, when the rack has variable adjustmentof the storage compartments, for which purpose it comprises storagecompartment divisions that can be variably set in the horizontal andalso the vertical direction and bear the item, still more flexiblestorage with fine adjustment to the items is possible.

In other words, storage compartment divisions are set in a variablemanner in the rack based on the size of the item about to be placed intostorage. These can be set in such a variable manner that there ispractically no grid-pattern loss as in the prior art. The storagecompartment divisions in accordance with the invention are also smallsuch that a number of them are required to store an item but this meansthat no empty space is left.

“Settable” means herein that the storage compartment divisions can befixed in the rack in a releasable manner. The settable storagecompartment divisions are thus placed by reference to the item (size) asthe item is being placed into storage. In so doing, the settable storagecompartment divisions are preferably placed below the item and laterallyof the item with the aid of the storage compartment for the item. Thesettable storage compartment divisions thus surround the respective itemat least from below and from one side.

In a preferred embodiment, the settable storage compartment divisionsare formed in a pin-like manner. These pins are then disposed in therack such that a plurality of pins bear an item from below and furtherpins support the item laterally against slipping etc. The number ofstorage compartment divisions or pins used is dependent on the sizeand/or weight.

In a likewise preferred embodiment, the rack comprises on the rear wallside a fastening matrix extending over the width and height of the rackfor fastening the settable storage compartment divisions. In otherwords, a type of perforated wall rack with a fastening matrix isprovided in the rack and so the storage compartment divisions (or pins)can be releasably fixed at any fastening point as required in order tobear and laterally support an item in a manner adapted to its sizewithout sacrificing space.

The actual fastening of the settable storage compartment divisions orpins is effected in any manner, in particular by screw connection orbayonet coupling or the like.

The fastening matrix can be formed by a rear wall over the entiresurface or even e.g. by a multiplicity of individual transverse beams.

During placement into storage, the settable storage compartmentdivisions are expediently automatically set by means of a horizontallyand vertically positionable storage compartment division setter. This isa type of nail gun, i.e. a fastening device with a magazine for thestorage compartment divisions, in particular pins, which can bepositioned horizontally and vertically by reference to the item size bya controller and effects the fastening of the storage compartmentdivisions on the rack or rear-side fastening matrix. The simplestarrangement is for the storage compartment division setter to be part ofthe rack serving apparatus, e.g. to be disposed below an item-carryingplatform.

On the one hand, the rack can be positioned vertically and the item“only” horizontally by means of the rack serving apparatus. However, itis also possible for the rack serving apparatus to effect both verticaland also horizontal positioning and for the rack to be stationary.Conversely, the rack can also be movable and the rack serving apparatusstationary, in particular, the rack is at least vertically movable whenit is small enough to be brought e.g. into a transporter.

Manual fastening of the storage compartment divisions is also possible.

A rack serving apparatus which can be used within the scope of theinvention can comprise a height-variable lifting platform with apositionable transverse stop and a positionable longitudinal stop.Therefore, the item to be placed into storage can be placed preciselyand can consequently also be positioned on an item already provided inthe rack, laterally above or below, without leaving empty space. Inaddition, it can thus be ensured that the storage compartment divisionscan be set simultaneously.

When the rack serving apparatus is attached to a supply conveyor andthus the lifting platform also comprises a transfer pusher which extendsover the end of the supply conveyor, simple and rapid pick-up ortransfer of the item and positioning thereof are possible.

The racks in accordance with the invention may preferably be usablewhere storage density is very important and little space is available.The places where they are used are e.g. in last-mile-transporter loadingin a distribution center, i.e. the dispatch area of logistics centers.In particular, where space restriction is particularly critical, e.g. inthe loading dock area of the logistics center or in the transporter,truck, container, etc. itself.

At this location, the use of space optimized to the respective deliverywith a broad and variable range of articles and division of the storagecompartments optimized in relation thereto are necessary. This can berealized in each case in a very flexible and real-time manner in therack for individual articles, protective bags, 6-packs, packets, etc. bya pre-calculated or preset loading pattern of the storage compartmentdivision by means of the adaptable storage compartment divisions. Thismeans that such a rack can also be adapted multiple times at shortnotice within a day.

Furthermore, an automatic loading device for the compartments ispossible, i.e. the rack must also be suitable for this. In addition, therack is used in a transporter and so matters relating to the loadsecuring of the item, and in the transporter could also possibly arisebut these have only been described in general and not in detail.

The rack can thus also be designed to be mobile and so e.g. it can beloaded as a whole into a transporter. Alternatively it could be loadedwith items directly in the transporter.

The invention also relates to a method for loading a rack with items,which is provided with storage compartments, having a rack servingapparatus which can move horizontally and vertically in order to placethe items into storage and remove them from storage, wherein therespective storage compartment, during loading of the respective item,is adapted to the item both horizontally and also vertically in aflexible manner, for which purpose the rack comprises flexibleadjustment of the storage compartments with storage compartmentdivisions which can be variably set both in the horizontal and verticaldirection.

These and other objects, advantages, purposes, features and details ofthe invention will become apparent upon review of exemplifiedembodiments in the following specification in conjunction with thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a rack for storing items;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 1 with alifting device;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 1 with alifting device and a rack serving apparatus as well as a supplyconveyor;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 3 duringloading;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 4 from below;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the rack of FIG. 1 in the loaded state;and

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the rack of FIG. 1 in thepartially loaded state.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying figures, wherein the numbered elements in the followingwritten description correspond to like-numbered elements in the figures.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures a device,designated as a whole by 1, is shown for storing items, having a rack 2and a rack serving apparatus 11, wherein in order to place the items 100into storage and to remove them from storage the rack serving apparatus11 and the rack 2 are able to move horizontally and vertically relativeto one another.

The rack 2 has a frame formed from lateral and rear vertical struts 3, 7and a base plate 4 as well as lateral transverse struts 5 and arear-side transverse strut 6. A multiplicity of transverse beams 8 atdifferent heights are attached in a matrix-like manner to the rearvertical struts 7 and each comprise a multiplicity of fastening threads9 along their extension, into which pin-like storage compartmentdividers 21, to be described below, can be screwed.

The rack 2 is vertically displaceable by means of a lifting mechanism 10and so items 100 to be placed into storage can be positioned at thepredetermined position, although the rack serving apparatus 11 and thesupply belt conveyor 12, which delivers the items 100 to be placed intostorage, are vertically stationary.

At the end of the supply belt conveyor 12, a pusher 14, driven andguided on a linear guide, takes the items 100 and places them on aplatform 13 against a positionable transverse stop 16 and a positionablelongitudinal stop 17 which have been prepositioned according to theprecalculated position of the respective item 100 in the rack 2. Thetransverse stop 16 then pushes the item 100 against the rear verticalstruts 7.

At the same time, the necessary number of pin-like storage compartmentdividers 21 are fastened by a storage compartment division setter 18into the fastening threads 9 below the platform 13 or the item 100 onthe transverse beams. In the illustrated embodiment, the storagecompartment division setter 18 comprises the actual screw-in device 19and a magazine 20 for supplying pin-like storage compartment dividers21.

Subsequently, depending on the next item 100′, laterally next to thelast-positioned item 100, further pin-like storage compartment dividers21 can be attached. Thus, e.g. gradually a loading pattern asillustrated in FIG. 6 is created. It will be recognized that incomparison to conventional racks there is practically no wasted space.The rack 2 can then be loaded e.g. into a transporter. If the rack 2serves for transportation purposes, the pin-like storage compartmentdividers 21 can also be fitted with load-securing protrusions. Differentlengths of pin-like storage compartment dividers 21 can also be used.Once it has been emptied, the pin-like storage compartment dividers 21can be removed and the rack 2 can be divided up again.

Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments canbe carried out without departing from the principles of the presentinvention which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patentlaw including the doctrine of equivalents.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A device for storingitems comprising: a rack, the rack being provided with storagecompartments; and a rack serving apparatus; wherein the rack servingapparatus and the rack are moveable horizontally and vertically relativeto one another in order to place items into storage and to remove itemsfrom storage, and wherein the rack comprises settable storagecompartment divisions that can be variably set both in the horizontaldirection and also in the vertical direction and bear items to provide avariable adjustment of the storage compartments with the settablestorage compartment divisions being formed in a pin-like manner, andwherein the settable storage compartment divisions are placed with theaid of a particular item when the particular item is being placed intostorage, and wherein the settable storage compartment divisions areplaced with the aid of the storage compartment of another item below theparticular item and/or laterally of the particular item, and wherein therack comprises on a rear wall side of the rack a fastening matrixextending over a width and a height of the rack for fastening thesettable storage compartment divisions.
 2. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the settable storage compartment divisions are set by ahorizontally and vertically positionable storage compartment divisionsetter during placement of items into storage.
 3. The device as claimedin claim 2, wherein the storage compartment division setter is part ofthe rack serving apparatus.
 4. The device as claimed in claim 1, whereinthe rack serving apparatus comprises a height-variable lifting platformwith a positionable transverse stop and a positionable longitudinalstop.
 5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rack servingapparatus is attached to a supply conveyor.
 6. The device as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the lifting platform comprises a transfer pusher whichextends over the end of the supply conveyor.
 7. The device as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the rack is mobile.
 8. A device for storing itemscomprising: a rack, the rack being provided with storage compartments;and a rack serving apparatus; wherein the rack serving apparatus and therack are moveable horizontally and vertically relative to one another inorder to place items into storage and to remove items from storage, andwherein the rack comprises settable storage compartment divisions thatcan be variably set both in the horizontal direction and also in thevertical direction and bear items to provide a variable adjustment ofthe storage compartments with the settable storage compartment divisionsbeing formed in a pin-like manner, and wherein the settable storagecompartment divisions are placed with the aid of a particular item whenthe particular item is being placed into storage, and wherein thesettable storage compartment divisions are placed with the aid of thestorage compartment of another item below the particular item and/orlaterally of the particular item, and wherein the rack comprises on arear wall side of the rack a fastening matrix extending over a width anda height of the rack for fastening the settable storage compartmentdivisions, and wherein the settable storage compartment divisions areset by a horizontally and vertically positionable storage compartmentdivision setter during placement of items into storage and the rackserving apparatus is attached to a supply conveyor.
 9. The device ofclaim 8, wherein the storage compartment division setter is part of therack serving apparatus.
 10. The device as claimed in claim 8, whereinthe rack serving apparatus comprises a height-variable lifting platformwith a positionable transverse stop and a positionable longitudinalstop.
 11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the liftingplatform comprises a transfer pusher which extends over the end of thesupply conveyor.
 12. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rackis mobile.
 13. A method for loading a rack with items, with the rackbeing provided with storage compartments and a rack serving apparatusconfigured to move horizontally and vertically in order to place itemsinto storage and remove items from storage, said method comprising:adapting the size of a storage compartment to the size of a respectiveitem both vertically and horizontally during loading of the respectiveitem to the storage compartment, wherein the rack comprises storagecompartment divisions and wherein the storage compartment divisions arevariably set in both a horizontal direction and vertical direction toset the size of the storage compartment.
 14. The method as claimed inclaim 13, wherein the storage compartment divisions are set by ahorizontally and vertically positionable storage compartment divisionsetter during placement of items into storage.
 15. The method as claimedin claim 14, wherein the storage compartment division setter is part ofthe rack serving apparatus.
 16. The method as claimed in claim 13,wherein the rack serving apparatus comprises a height-variable liftingplatform with a positionable transverse stop and a positionablelongitudinal stop.
 17. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein therack serving apparatus is attached to a supply conveyor.
 18. The methodas claimed in claim 17, wherein the lifting platform comprises atransfer pusher which extends over the end of the supply conveyor. 19.The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rack is mobile.